No More School: Hudson Valley Officials Notify Communities

After Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York's schools and colleges will remain closed through the end of the academic year, officials in districts across the Hudson Valley began quickly to notify their communities.

News of the decision came midway through the governor's 11:30 a.m. briefing Friday.

"Today Governor Cuomo announced that schools will now be closed until the end of the 2019-2020 school year," Ossining schools Superintendent Raymond Sanchez said in an email at 12:30 p.m. "Distant learning will continue until June 26th."

New York is the 44th state to have ordered or recommended school building closures for the rest of the academic year because of the coronavirus, according to Education Week.

"In the weeks ahead we will be sending specific information about all year-end events and celebrations that need to follow social distancing guidelines," Dr. Laurie Bandlow Victor Karlsson, superintendent of Brewster schools, wrote to the community. "Specific information will also be sent out regarding the retrieval of all student personal items in a safe and organized way. In the weeks ahead each building principal will reach out to their individual school community with specific details. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s 11 member sections have canceled all remaining spring 2020 sports."

Cuomo is also directing all schools and colleges to create re-opening plans that re-imagine school facilities in light of the pandemic.

These plans should consider how schools can monitor the spread of COVID-19; how to reinforce student safety; when and how to resume extracurricular activities; protocols for special student populations; steps to ensure student mental health; alternative academic calendars; among other considerations. All plans will be reviewed and approved by the state.

"It's critical that we protect our students from this virus, and given the current circumstances we are in we do not think it is possible to put the necessary precautions in place that would allow us to re-open schools this academic year," Cuomo said during his Friday briefing.

Those circumstances included another 3,942 people confirmed positive in the past 24 hours, bringing the statewide total in the past two months to 308,314 cases.

“As challenging as it has been, and will be, closing schools for the rest of the academic year is the right decision for Dutchess County, and I’m thankful Governor Cuomo made this decision," said County Exective Marcus Molinaro. "Dutchess will continue working with our school districts and students to receive the educational foundation they need to propel them forward. As we continue to ThinkDIFFERENTLY in Dutchess County, we will keep advocating for those who need special education services to ensure they get the support they require."

In the Hudson Valley, the New York state health department provided data Friday on confirmed cases by county:

• Dutchess - 3,002
• Orange - 8,751
• Putnam - 990
• Rockland - 11,812
• Ulster - 1,298
• Westchester - 29,232

"All schools and colleges will continue to provide distance learning, meal delivery and child care services for the remainder of the school year," Cuomo said. State officials will make a decision about summer school programming by the end of May.

In Nanuet, school officials posted the news on the website right away:

The Nanuet School District will be closed and engaged in “at home” learning through June 26th. All Nanuet School District parks are closed. We will revisit the decision when the governor's emergency order ends on June 26th. Also please note that the NYS Board of Regents has canceled June exams.

Bedford schools Superintendent Joel Adelberg urged his community to stay safe.

"Remote learning will continue for the remainder of the year," he said. "We will continue to explore and develop ways to celebrate the achievements of our students while ensuring their safety and complying with state mandates. We will keep you informed of any new developments."